In an effort to raise awareness and encourage the engagement of patients, families, healthcare providers, and the public, Calais Regional Hospital and Calais Regional Medical Services has announced its participation in the 2013 Patient Safety Awareness Week campaign. The week is an annual education and awareness campaign for health care safety.

Patient Safety Awareness Week will be recognized March 18-22, 2013. This years’ theme, Patient Safety 7/365, highlights the need for everyone to understand the importance of focusing on patient safety all year round. The 5 days of the campaign also serve as time to recognize the range of work being done within the organization. CRH Chief Executive Officer Mr. Michael Lally encourages you to “Please join us as we celebrate our successes, lessons learned and commitment to our patients while creating awareness.”

CRH and CRMS will engage staff, patients, and the community through educational and awareness building activities specific to patient safety. There are a variety of informational sessions being held throughout the week on many topics, some that may interest our community members. To view the schedule of topics, visit our website at www.calaishospital.com, contact us on our CRH Facebook page or call the Quality Management Department at 454-9322 for more information.

The highlight event of the week will be on Tuesday, March 19, at 6 p.m. at WCCC when special guest speaker and patient advocate, Regina Holliday, presents “The Writing on the Wall.” Regina Holliday is a Washington, DC based patient rights advocate, speaker and social media blogger who has dedicated her life to sharing the patient story. Her advocacy mission is inspired by her husband, Frederick Allen Holliday II. She speaks nationally on patient care and paints those concepts on canvas at medical conferences throughout the United States. She has been a keynote speaker for the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, CMS, AHRQ, Quality Counts, and recently, the Leapfrog Group.

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CRH staff Teena Dominie, RN; Ericka Tracy, RN; and Dr. Elizabeth Eliacin heard and met Mrs. Holliday when CRH was presented with the 2012 Top Rural Hospital Award. Her message was provoking and so well presented they thought it would be great to bring her to Washington County. Seats are limited for the event so please register online at http://crhpatientsafety.eventbrite.com or by calling 454-9313 or 454-9253.